General Discussion / Social Media, page-5993

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (the Trust) intention to extend its contract with its incumbent supplier of e-Noting services from Insight Direct (UK) Ltd,


...the Trust intends to extend its existing supplier contract via a Contract Change Notice to cover an additional 3 year period while the Trust procures and implements an EPR solution


Additional Information The Trust is proposing to extend its existing contract with incumbent supplier Insight, for the Alcidion Miya Precision platform, which includes the modules for e-noting, nursing observations and assessments, Emergency Department, Electronic Discharge notification, order comms and patient flow.

The CCN also includes cloud transition (at no additional cost) as Alcidion do not offer Miya as an on premise option.By undertaking this contract extension, the Trust will provide the business continuity needed for the continued use of digital clinical systems to support the delivery of high quality and safe patient care.

Failure to continue with the provision of these products will have a significant adverse impact on the delivery of safe patient care.

The Trust is proposing to extend the current supplier contract for a period 3 years, this being the minimum period necessary for it to carry out a full and complete procurement exercise for an EPR solution, including the necessary period of contract mobilisation following the appointment of a successful bidder. The Trust is committed to developing the digital maturity of the organisation to deliver its vision “Providing outstanding care that is skilled trusted and kind every time”.

The Trust strategy positions digital as a key enabler over the next 10 years.

To support its strategic direction the Trust will be undertaking a procurement for an EPR solution. The Trust Board approved the Outline Business Case (“OBC”) in December 2023, which has not provided sufficient time for the Trust to undertake a procurement before the existing contract ends. The Trust will be undertaking an EPR procurement and is working with NHSE to meet the necessary criteria for funding from the Frontline Digitisation Programme.

The Trust is currently completing a number of readiness activities including establishing an infrastructure to support cloud services as well as actively engaging with stakeholders for preparing the requirements documents.

The Trust aims to submit the Outline Business Case and accompanying documentation to NHSE in July 2024.

Pre-market engagement will take place in August 2024, with the intention to issue an ITT in September 2024.

It is expected that a Final Business Case will be submitted to NHSE in January 2025, and following NHSE approval, and Trust Board approval contract signature will be in September 2025.These timelines are ambitious.

To allow for contingence, and to provide the Trust adequate time to transition to an EPR solution, the Trust proposes to extend the existing contract by 3 years. The Trust has considered the procurement and given the complexity of the EPR procurement, it is considered that this timeframe is the shortest realistic time period which will allow for the procurement process and necessary approvals from the Trust and NHSE, and allow for a smooth transition and EPR deployment.The Trust is currently actively engaged and working with LPP and NHS England to agree procurement documentation and route to market for an EPR.